Another Pandemic Ahead? Measles Outbreak Hits Texas with 58 Cases in Three Weeks

The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) has identified a measles outbreak in the South Plains region of Texas, with 58 cases reported in the past three weeks. Hospitals have admitted thirteen patients so far. Four individuals were vaccinated, while the rest are either unvaccinated or their vaccination status remains unknown. Due to the disease’s high contagion, health officials expect more cases in Gaines County and nearby communities. DSHS is collaborating with the South Plains Public Health District and Lubbock Public Health to investigate the outbreak.

20% of Unvaccinated Measles Cases Require Hospitalization with Ongoing Cases Including 15 Children Under 4

Measles is a highly contagious and severe airborne disease. Infected individuals typically develop a high fever, respiratory symptoms, conjunctivitis, and a characteristic rash. While symptoms may be mild in some cases, they can also be severe. According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), about 20% of unvaccinated individuals in the U.S. who contract measles require hospitalization. Health officials have identified most of the ongoing cases in children, with 15 affecting those aged 4 years and younger, 33 in those aged 5 to 17, and six in adults. The ages of four cases are still under review.

The disease is fatal in approximately one to three out of every 1,000 unvaccinated children, and about one in 1,000 develops brain swelling, which can cause long-term hearing and cognitive impairments. Measles has also been linked to lasting immune system defects, increasing susceptibility to other infections later in life.

The measles virus, a member of the morbillivirus family, causes the disease. The measles virus infects only humans and spreads easily through coughs, sneezes, or close contact. Experts estimate that in an unvaccinated group, one person with measles can pass it to 12 to 18 others. This makes measles one of the most contagious viruses in the world.

Karen Landers, MD, Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH) chief medical officer, said, “One of the main messages we want to emphasize is that measles follows a pattern in which the child first develops fever, cough, runny nose, and watery/red eyes, then a rash develops. Persons can start spreading the virus up to four days before symptoms appear, and those with weak immune systems can spread the measles virus longer.”

Global Measles Cases Increase by 60% in 2023, Affecting 57 Countries and 10.3 Million People

Although the U.S. declared measles eliminated in 2000, cases and outbreaks still occur due to unvaccinated international travelers. Large outbreaks can happen when travel-related cases reach communities with low vaccination rates. In 2019, the U.S. nearly lost its elimination status after a major outbreak in New York and cases reported in 30 other states, totaling nearly 1,300 infections. After a decline in global measles cases during the COVID-19 pandemic, measles activity is once again rising both worldwide and in the U.S.

Vaccination can almost completely prevent measles. The measles vaccine contains a weakened form of the virus that replicates at low levels in the body, triggering a strong immune response without causing illness. Healthcare providers administer the vaccine in two doses: the first between 12 and 15 months of age and the second around age 5. Older children and unvaccinated adults can still receive the shots. Full protection usually develops about two weeks after the second dose. The vaccine is highly effective, offering about 97% protection for those who receive both doses.

“Measles vaccine has saved more lives than any other vaccine in the past 50 years,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. “To save even more lives and stop this deadly virus from harming the most vulnerable, we must invest in immunization for every person, no matter where they live.”

Global gaps in vaccination coverage led to large or disruptive measles outbreaks in 57 countries in 2023, with approximately 10.3 million people contracting the disease. This marked a nearly 60% increase from 36 countries in the previous year. The WHO regions of Africa, Eastern Mediterranean, Europe, South-East Asia, and the Western Pacific saw significant rises in cases, with nearly half of the major outbreaks occurring in Africa.

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Denisse Sandoval